A Novel Characterization Method for Graft‐Polymer Structures Chemically Attached on Thermally Stable Polymer Films |
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| Authors: | Kazuyuki Enomoto Shuichi Takahashi Yasunari Maekawa |
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| Affiliation: | High Performance Polymer Group, Environment and Industrial, Materials Research Division, Quantum Beam Science, Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370‐1292, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Most polymer grafts in grafted polymer films obtained by radiation‐induced solid graft polymerization are not analyzed in detail due to difficulties in isolation of the grafts without structural decomposition. Herein, a novel structural and molecular weight characterization method is reported for polymer grafts that are chemically attached to thermally and chemically stable polymer substrates, based on a swelling‐induced graft detachment in hot water. Polymer grafts prepared by the radiation‐induced polymerization of alkyl acrylate into poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) followed by a sulfonation reaction are found to have a ternary copolymer structure whose monomer units contain –COOH or –SO3H groups, or both. |
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| Keywords: | degradation graft polymerization polymer‐electrolyte membranes sulfonation swelling |
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